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City Of Rocks National Preserve
Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument
Nez Perce National Historic Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone Park & Trail Facts

Maps &Trails

City of Rocks National Reserve

City Of Rocks National Preserve
P.O. Box 169
Almo, ID 83312-0169
208-824-5519
For public inquiries: 208-824-5519

Scenic granite spires and sculptured rock formations dominate this landscape. Remnants of the California Trail are still visible in the area. Recreational opportunities include rock climbing and camping. LIMITED FACILITIES.

Authorized Nov. 18, 1988. Administered cooperatively by the National Park Service and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

Acreage - 14,407.19 Federal: 7,001.18 Nonfederal: 7,406.01.

City of Rocks National Reserve is part of the Columbia Cascades Cluster

Hagerman Fossil Beds
National Monument

Hagerman Fossil Beds NM contains the largest concentration of Hagerman Horse fossils in North America. The Monument is Internationally significant because it protects the world's richest known fossil deposits from a time period called the late Pliocene epoch, 3.5 million years ago. These plants and animals represent the last glimpse of time that existed before the Ice Age, and the earliest appearances of modern flora and fauna.

VISITATION:

Highest in June, July, August and September; lowest in January.

LOCATION:

The visitor Center is located in the town of Hagerman, Idaho.

ADDRESS:

Hagerman Fossil Beds NM
P.O. Box 570, 221 North State Street
Hagerman, Idaho 83332

TELEPHONE:

(208) 837-4793, FAX:(208) 837-4857

OPERATING HOURS, SEASONS:

Summer: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (from Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend); 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday (the remainder of the year).

CLIMATE, RECOMMENDED CLOTHING:

Summers are generally hot and dry with possible wind. Sun Screen and plenty of liquids are recommended. Winters are generally cold with some snow. Recommend layers of clothing, especially in spring and fall, and sturdy walking shoes needed for all seasons.

DIRECTIONS:

Hagerman Fossil Beds NM, Visitor Center is located in the town of Hagerman along U.S. Highway 30 approximately 100 miles southeast of Boise, Idaho, and 35 miles northwest of Twin Falls, Idaho. The monument itself is approximately 6 to 8 miles west of Hagerman across the Snake River.

TRANSPORTATION:

To Park: No park transportation is provided, private vehicles are required.

In Park: Private vehicles are used.

FEES, COSTS RATES:

There is no charge at either the visitor center or on the Monument.

FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES:

Visitor Center/Exhibits:

Information Center, fossil exhibits, slideshow, video and programs are provided by park staff with scheduled public tours during the summer.

Trails, Roadways:

There is a viewpoint on the Oregon Trail overlook with wayside exhibits. The Monument Boardwalk overlooks the fossil beds, Snake River and the Hagerman Valley. Both are wheel chair accessible. Hiking trails are proposed for future visitor use.

Programs, Activities:

Regularly scheduled ranger-guided tours are available seasonally. Educational programs for schools are given throughout the school year. Reservations are required.

Lodging and Camping facilities:

There are no lodging or camping facilities in the park. Lodging, camping and RV parking are available in the area.

Food, Supplies:

Local restaurants, grocery stores, and several mini-mart/gas stations are located in the town of Hagerman.

Other Concessions, NPS-Managed Visitor Facilities and Opportunities:

The Park bookstore, operated by the Craters of the Moon Historical Association, is located in the Visitor Center in Hagerman.

Accessibility:

Visitor Center, Oregon Trail and Monument Boardwalk are all wheelchair accessible. The road is paved through the monument with parking available in all areas.

Special Needs:

Fossils are not on exhibit in field area. Visitors outside designated areas must be accompanied by a park ranger.

RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES, PARK USE:

Visiting various museums and exhibits, joining in guided programs (seasonally), fishing and hunting within designated boundaries (appropriate state licenses required), Bird watching, canoeing and other boating.

RESERVATIONS, PERMITS:

Reservations for school groups and other educational groups should be made prior to your visit with as much advance notice as possible. At least one month notice with application for Special Use Permits is required.

BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS:

A minimum of two hours is recommended to visit the various park facilities. A Self-guided driving tour is also available.

SPECIAL EVENTS, PROGRAMS:

February -- Bird Festival
May -- Hagerman Fossil Days Celebration
Summer of 1997 -- Horse Quarry Excavation
Contact the Park at (208) 837-4793 for specific dates and times.

VISITOR IMPACTS:

Roads may be closed due to inclement weather. Private road areas run through the monument, visitors should stay in designated areas.

ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS:

Craters of the Moon, Arco, Idaho,(Approximately 2 hours away),City of Rocks National Reserve, Almo, Idaho,(approximately 3 hours away) and various State and City Parks, including Malad Gorge State Park (located in Hagerman vicinity) and Three Island Crossing State Park in Glenns Ferry, Idaho (approximately 1 hour away).

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Write Hagerman Fossil Beds NM, P.O. Box 570, Hagerman, Idaho 83332 or call (208) 837-4793.

Nez Perce National Historical Park

The 38 sites of the park in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington provide an important perspective about American history. The history of the Nez Perce people and their relationship to North American history are preserved and interpreted here. It is the view from a homeland looking out, witnessing the march of history and change, yet continuing to commemorate and celebrate Nez Perce culture and traditions. Authorized May 15,1965. Boundary change Oct. 30, 1992.

Location:
Spalding, Idaho

Address:
Nez Perce National Historical Park
PO Box 93
Spalding, Id 83551

Telephone:
208-843-2261

Operating Hours:

The Visitor Center is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Hours are extended during summer.

Directions:

The Visitor Center is located 11 miles east of Lewiston on Hwy. 95. The park's various sites are separated by great distances.

Fees:
No Entrance Fee

Acreage:
2,109.61 acres
Federal: 1,833.71
Non-Federal: 275.90

Lodging/Camping:

No camping is available in the park. Camping is available in the Clearwater and Nez Perce National Forests. Additional camping is available from state and private campgrounds in the area.

Accessibility:

Canoe Camp and East Kamiah trails and the Visitor Center are accessible. The TDD telephone number is 208-843-2010.

Yellowstone National Park Facts

General:

World's first national park
3,472 square miles (8,987 square km)
2,219,823 acres (898,714 hectares)
63 miles north to south (102 km)
54 miles east to west (87 km)
Larger than Rhode Island and Delaware combined 91% in Wyoming , 7.6% in Montana , 1.4% in Idaho

Highest point: 11,358 ft (3462 m) - Eagle Peak
Lowest point: 5,282 ft (1610 m) - Reese Creek

Approximately 5% is covered by water; 15% is meadow and grassland; and 80% is forested. Precipitation ranges from 10 inches (26 cm) at north boundary to 80 inches (205 cm) in the southwest corner.

Temperatures range from 10F (-12C) mean in January, to 55F (13C) mean in July at Lake Yellowstone in the center of the park.

Record High Temp: 98F (37C) - Lamar 1936 Record Low Temp: -66F (-54C) - Madison 1933

Flora:

8 species of conifers (Approximately 80% of forest is comprised of Lodgepole Pine.)
Approximately 1,050 species of native vascular plants
168 species of exotic (non-native) plants

Wildlife:

Largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the lower 48 states and the global temperate zone. 7 species of native ungulates (hoofed mammals) 2 species of bears.
Approximately 49 species of other mammals
290 species of birds 18 species of fish (5 non-native)
6 species of reptiles
4 species of amphibians
5 species protected as "threatened or endangered"

Yellowstone Lake:

136 square miles surface area (35,400 hectares)
110 miles of shoreline (177 km)
20 miles north to south (32 km)
14 miles east to west (23 km)
Average depth - 139 feet (42 m)
Maximum depth - 390 feet (119 m)

Geology:

Approximately 10,000 thermal features
Approximately 200-250 active geysers
Tallest waterfall: 308 feet (94 m) - Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River

One of the world's largest calderas (volcanic explosion crater). It measures 28 miles x 47 miles (45 km x 75 km).

Roads and Trails:

5 Park entrances
370 miles of paved roads
Approximately 1,200 miles of trails
97 trailheads
Approximately 300 backcountry campsites

Facilities:

9 visitor centers / museums / information stations
9 hotels / lodges (2,184 hotel rooms / cabins)
7 NPS operated campgrounds (458 sites)
5 concession operated campgrounds (1,744 sites)
Over 2,000 buildings (NPS and concession)
49 picnic areas

Cultural Resources

550 known archeologic sites
Over 1,000 historic structures
A designated World Heritage Site
13 Historic Districts
5 National Historic Landmarks
Over 200,000 museum objects
90,000 historic photographs
1,400 linear feet of archives
A Research Library of over 10,000 volumes

Employees

During the summer:
730 National Park Service
3,200 Concessions

Yellowstone National Park

This premier "jewel in the crown" of the National Park Service protects an amazing 2.2 million acres of geological wonders, majestic mountain and valley scenery, and the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states. Elevations vary from 5,300 to 11,358 feet. There's a wealth of wilderness on this high plateau, much of it infrequently visited. It's not unusual to be on the Yellowstone backcountry trails for a week without seeing anyone. Coniferous forests cover most of the park, but there are also great open valleys of sagebrush and grasses, alpine meadows, and strikingly clear large and small lakes. Wildlife includes just about every species that was here when John Colter, a trapper with the Lewis and Clark expedition, first reported seeing the area in 1807. Moose, elk, mule deer, pronghom antelope, bighorn sheep, bison, and grizzly and black bear inhabit the region. There are also mountain lions, coyotes, and badgers. As part of an effort to restore the gray wolf to Yellowstone, 14 wolves were brought to the park in January 1995 from Alberta, Canada. Since that time, an adult male was illegally killed and nine pups were born. Old Faithful geyser is the symbol of Yellowstone, but an estimated 10,000 thermal features are found here-more than anywhere else in the world-ranging from small hillside vents to colorful boiling pools and roiling mud pots. In the heart of the park is the enormous 136-square-mile Yellowstone Lake. Cormorants, terns, white pelicans, osprey, bald eagles and many kinds of ducks, geese, and swans ride the wind and float the waves on this huge body of water.

Getting Away:

Approximately 1,200 miles of trails are available for hiking, allowing access into every corner of the park. Trips of any length can be planned, ranging from easy to strenuous. Cross-country travel is possible, but unless you're very experienced it's advisable to stick to the trails; navigation is difficult in the solid expanse of lodgepole pine forest, and each year people hiking off trail in thermal areas have been seriously injured by scalding water or killed when the thin crust underfoot gives way. The broad valleys make Yellowstone an excellent choice for ski or snowshoe backpacking if you're an experienced and self-reliant winter camper. And if you're a paddler, there are many potential trips to consider Yellowstone Lake offers fantastic backcountry opportunities deep into the rarely traveled Thorofare and Two Ocean Plateau region; and a trip from Lewis Lake to Shoshone Lake via the Lewis River will bring you to some excellent campsites and the highly active Shoshone Geyser Basin.

Camping:

Permits are required for all overnight use of the backcountry. They are free and available from most ranger stations and visitor centers; however, they cannot be obtained more than 48 hours in advance of your trip. During the summer, camping is allowed in the approximately 300 designated sites. The number of people allowed at the sites is limited, so prepare an alternate route in case your first choice is already full. From October 15 to May 15, camping might be allowed outside some designated areas. Although fires are possible in some locations, your backpacking stove is more practical and gives you more flexibility in planning. It is recommended that all water in the backcountry be boiled or chemically treated. The air at such high elevations-the park averages between 7,000 and 8,500 feet-tends to be clear and dry in the summer. But powerful thunderstorms do occur, and it can snow at any time of the year. The backpacking season is generally May to October. May, September, and October sometimes become quite cold. Winters are among the coldest in the nation, but a backcountry trip during this season will be long remembered for its solace and beauty.

Worth Mentioning:

Knowing how to behave in grizzly country not only helps protect you, but it could save a bear, too. Read the park brochure on bear etiquette, and follow what it says. Your chosen hiking route might be closed during certain times of the year because of bear activity. Call the park in advance to get the latest backcountry information. Drive-in campgrounds are available on a first-come, first-served basis, except for Bridge Bay, Grant Village, Madison, Canyon, and the RV park at Fishing Bridge, where reservations are taken. To make a reservation, call TW Recreational Services, Inc. at (307) 344-7311. A good source to help you prepare for your trip is Yellowstone Trails, A Hiking Guide by Mark Marschall.

Access:

There are five entrances to Yellowstone, but only the north entrance at Gardiner, Montana (79 miles from Bozeman), is open all year. The south entrance is 55 miles from Jackson, Wyoming, via Grand Teton National Park.

For More Information:

Yellowstone National Park, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190; (307) 344-7381. Books, maps, and pamphlets are available from The Yellowstone Association, P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190; (307) 344-2293.

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